The Automobile Club de Monaco has announced a revised route for next year's World Rally Championship opener, with Gap replacing Valence as the starting venue.

Valence has hosted the event - as both a WRC and Intercontinental Rally Challenge round - for the last seven years. But next season, Gap will be the focus for the first half of the event.

A statement from the ACM said: "After seven consecutive years with a start from Valence in the Drome region, competitors on the 82nd Monte Carlo Rally are going to renew an itinerary from Monte Carlo to Gap (Hautes-Alpes).

"After two days of competition, crews will arrive in Monte Carlo on Friday January 17 in order to finish in the night from Saturday to Sunday January 19 by the traditional route in the Nice countryside."

This move will be good news for current WRC leader Sebastien Ogier, who was born and brought up in Gap.

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